NewzIntel.com

Category: Latin America

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. Daniel Noboa Azín, President of the Republic of Ecuador

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Daniel Noboa Azín, President of the Republic of Ecuador. The Secretary-General thanked President Noboa for Ecuador’s constructive role in the Security Council. The Secretary-General and the President discussed significant threats posed by transnational organized crime in the region.

    *****

    El Secretario General se reunió con el Excelentísimo Señor Daniel Noboa Azín, Presidente de la República del Ecuador. El Secretario General agradeció al Presidente Noboa por el papel constructivo de Ecuador en el Consejo de Seguridad.  El Secretario General y el Presidente discutieron las importantes amenazas que plantea el crimen organizado transnacional en la región.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Grassley demand Biden-Harris admin hold HHS accountable for unaccompanied migrant children

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and a bicameral group of more than 42 colleagues in urging Pres. Joe Biden to hold the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) accountable for the mismanagement and misplacement of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children.

    “As a result of your open-borders policies, overseen by Vice President Harris, who was tasked with ‘stemming the migration’ at our border with Mexico, more than 500,000 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) have crossed the southwest border without a parent or guardian to provide care since you took office, a massive increase when compared to previous administrations. . . . Your Administration also fails them when they arrive in the United States by rushing them out of the custody of your Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) into the hands of unvetted sponsors who often continue to exploit and abuse them,” the lawmakers wrote.

    “Even as the trafficking business and the number of children entering the U.S. surged, HHS ORR cut back significantly on background checks and vetting procedures to speed up the process, despite knowing children were being trafficked through HHS ORR’s UAC program. Your Administration likewise continued Vice President Harris’s longtime priority of cutting back on information sharing between HHS ORR and law enforcement related to unaccompanied children and sponsors,” they continued.

    The lawmakers also detailed a list of the ORR’s negligence in handling migrant children, including its failure to comply with Congressional subpoenas or provide information, such as the whereabouts of UACs, to the Department of Homeland Security.

    “HHS’s failure to ensure UACs are in appropriate placements and to adequately vet sponsors is harmful not only to the UACs, but also to American citizens. . . . HHS must stop its cover-up and cooperate with law enforcement and Congress to end this crisis and protect unaccompanied children and the American people,” the lawmakers concluded. 

    In Dec. 2023, Sen. Kennedy urged the Biden-Harris administration’s HHS to protect vulnerable migrant children by abandoning its planned rule to allow minors to be placed with sponsors who did not undergo background checks or other safeguards.

    Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.),  John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and 15 members of the House of Representatives also signed the letter.

    The full letter is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect American Assets From Unlawful Seizure by AMLO’s Mexico

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

    In violation of USMCA, the Mexican President has repeatedly threatened to declare an American company’s property as a “Protected Natural Area” to unjustifiably seize their assets

    WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led his colleagues in introducing the Defending American Property Abroad Act, legislation to impose retaliatory prohibitions that deter and punish any Western Hemisphere nation that unlawfully seizes American assets. This legislation responds to ongoing efforts by the Government of Mexico to seize a deep-water port owned by U.S.-based Vulcan Materials Company, which is a flagrant violation of the United Sates-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) governing trade between our two nations.

    Specifically, this legislation would prohibit vessels from entering a U.S. port if they had previously used a port, land, or infrastructure that had been illegally seized from a U.S. entity by a foreign nation in the Western Hemisphere. It also requires the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify and ban illegally seized ports from U.S. trade and requires the United States Trade Representative to report to Congress on how such expropriations would be addressed during the upcoming review of the United Sates-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), scheduled for 2026. The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).

    “I strongly condemn AMLO’s threats against Vulcan Materials Company and am pleased to see this bipartisan rebuke from the United States Senate,” said Senator Hagerty. “No nation or president, and especially one of our largest trade partners, should be allowed to bully an American firm without consequences. Our legislation will help to undermine any attempt by AMLO to profit from his illegal actions and, in the event of a seizure, would strengthen our nation’s position in trade negotiations with Mexico.”

    “Mexico seizing American-owned property is outrageous and unacceptable,” said Senator Barrasso. “The United States will always defend American business assets from illegal seizures. Senator Hagerty’s bill will ensure foreign countries cannot profit off of stealing from American companies abroad.”

    “Make no mistake–President López Obrador’s scheme to seize Vulcan’s deep-water port would represent a flagrant expropriation of a lawfully permitted, U.S.-owned operation, and his administration’s assault on the rule of law is putting America’s and Alabama’s economic and national security interests in jeopardy,” said Senator Britt. “We have repeatedly warned him that there will be substantial ramifications if his administration crossed this line. Our bipartisan Defending American Property Abroad Act makes it clear that we will keep our promises. The United States is prepared to meet President López Obrador’s illegal actions, which violate both Mexican and international law, with crushing consequences.” 

    “The United States and Mexico have an important trade and economic relationship,” said Senator Budd. “The illegal seizure of American property and infrastructure in Mexico is unacceptable and undermines that relationship. I am proud to partner with Senator Hagerty to stand up for American’s right to engage in international commerce without being extorted.” 

    “In recent years, Mexican President López Obrador has unfairly targeted Vulcan Materials Company, a U.S.-based company that employs over 1,000 people in Virginia,” said Senator Kaine, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. “That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to deter Mexico and any country in our hemisphere from illegally seizing U.S. assets. We must make it clear that this behavior will not be tolerated. On the heels of Mexico’s controversial judicial reforms, this behavior only further harms the economic relationship between our two countries, as well as global investor confidence in Mexico.” 

    “For more than a year, Mexican President López Obrador has continued to show undue aggression toward American businesses, primarily Alabama’s Vulcan Materials,” said Senator Tuberville. “The continued escalation against Vulcan’s operation in Mexico is a disgrace to the longstanding trade agreement between our two countries for the last 30 years. The Biden-Harris administration has refused to stand up to President López Obrador’s threats, which is why it’s time for Congress to take action and urgently move this legislation to ensure this doesn’t happen to more American companies under a new Mexican president.”

    Background:

    In May 2022, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) abruptly shut down Vulcan’s operations with false claims that the firm was violating its contract, and since then the Mexican Government, under AMLO’s direction, has waged an unceasing pressure campaign against Vulcan, including multiple lawsuits and at times sending military and law enforcement to its facilities. Last month, AMLO announced that he is pushing to designate the port and mine a “Protected Natural Area”.

    In May 2022, Hagerty urged President Joe Biden to take action against the Mexican government’s moves to expropriate the property of U.S. companies with investments and operations in Mexico.

    In March 2023, Hagerty pressed Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the seizure by Mexican military troops and civilian authorities of U.S.-based Vulcan Materials Company’s assets in Mexico.

    In December 2023, Hagerty and Kaine spoke on the Senate floor imploring President López Obrador to halt harmful actions against American companies’ lawfully owned assets in Mexico, noting that these unlawful actions violate agreements made between the two countries under the USMCA and jeopardize a key U.S. trade relationship.

    In May 2024, Hagerty, Tuberville, Britt, and Kaine sent a letter to Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Alicia Bárcena urging her to take action regarding the Mexican government’s mistreatment of Vulcan Materials Company.

    Full text of the Defending American Property Abroad Act can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: CAF and UNOPS Join Forces to Boost Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean

    Source: CAF Development Bank of Latin America

    CAF- development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a framework for collaboration aimed at promoting sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

    The agreement, signed by CAF’s Executive President Sergio Díaz-Granados and UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira Da Silva, outlines key areas of cooperation. These include technical assistance and implementation of infrastructure projects, conducting feasibility studies and project structuring, development of joint training activities in project management and procurement, resource mobilization to support regional countries, as well as information exchange and capacity building initiatives.

    This agreement strengthens the relationship between the two organizations, as since 2017, CAF and UNOPS have worked together in Latin America on technical assistance projects in Panama, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay.

    By combining CAF’s financial strength with UNOPS’ technical expertise, we are better positioned to address the complex challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean

    Sergio Díaz-Granados

    Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF, stated: “This partnership with UNOPS represents a significant step towards enhancing our capacity to deliver impactful projects across the region. By combining CAF’s financial strength with UNOPS’ technical expertise, we are better positioned to address the complex challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean, ultimately contributing to the sustainable development of our member countries.”

    We’re consolidating the efforts we have made together with CAF to continue to improve the lives of millions of people across the Latin America and Caribbean region

    Jorge Moreira Da Silva

    “In a world facing multiple global crises, partnerships like this are instrumental. We’re consolidating the efforts we have made together with CAF to continue to improve the lives of millions of people across the Latin America and Caribbean region”, said Jorge Moreira Da Silva, UNOPS Executive Director.

    The MOU provides a foundation for future specific agreements between the two organizations. It emphasizes the importance of knowledge sharing, joint communication efforts, and the potential for collaborative resource mobilization.

    This collaboration between CAF and UNOPS is expected to bring valuable synergies to development efforts in the region, leveraging the strengths of both institutions to promote sustainable growth and improved quality of life for Latin American and Caribbean communities.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with  H.E. Mr. Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, President of the Government of Spain [scroll down for Spanish version]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, President of the Government of Spain. The Secretary-General and the President of the Government discussed the situation in the Middle East and in Venezuela. They also exchanged views on the Summit of the Future and Spanish support for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, including through the upcoming Conference on Financing for Development to be held in Seville, Spain in 2025.

    *****
    El Secretario General se reunió con el Excelentísimo Señor Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, Presidente del Gobierno de España. El Secretario General y el Presidente del Gobierno abordaron la situación en el Medio Oriente y en Venezuela. También intercambiaron puntos de vista sobre la Cumbre del Futuro y el apoyo de España para la implementación de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, incluyendo mediante la próxima Conferencia sobre la Financiación para el Desarrollo que tendrá lugar en Sevilla, España en el 2025.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Plateau care center offers homely comfort to orphans, elderly

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Tsechok Dorje (1st L) and Tsering Drolma (2nd R) pose for a photo at a care center in Ngari Prefecture, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, Sept. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Seeing Tsechok Dorje’s scar on the right side of his face, Tsering Drolma couldn’t help but feel heartbroken, with tears welling up in her eyes.
    Several days ago, the eighth grader accidentally fell onto a heater and injured his face at school. When a teacher called Tsering Drolma about the accident, she was so panicked that she immediately asked her husband to drive her to the hospital to check on Tsechok Dorje’s condition.
    “I dared not be present while he was receiving treatment,” said Tsering Drolma, 36. “Luckily, his eyes are fine. Otherwise, I would feel guilty for the rest of my life.”
    Tsering Drolma is not Tsechok Dorje’s biological mother, but a Tibetan worker at a care center in Ngari Prefecture, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. She serves as a custodian-like “mother” of 12 orphans, including Tsechok Dorje.
    Sheltering 81 children and 54 elderly people without any family members or living with disabilities, the care center combines the functions of an orphanage and a nursing home, with workers serving like family members and creating an atmosphere like a big family.
    Tsering Drolma still remembers when Tsechok Dorje first arrived there two years ago. “Back then, he was still immersed in the sorrow of losing his loved ones. He would often sit alone in the corner without uttering a word,” Tsering Drolma recalled.
    To help him embrace the new environment, the workers in the care center often took him out to play, made his favorite meals for him and helped him study. These acts of affection and care have gradually transformed him, turning his quiet and reserved persona into a sociable and outgoing one.
    In addition to helping his “mother” take care of the younger children, Tsechok Dorje also shares what happened in school as well as his observations during a museum visit with his “siblings.” Over the two years, his academic performance has also significantly improved.
    To better take care of the children, Tsering Drolma often attends various training sessions, including caring for the orphaned and children living with disabilities, performing first aid and preparing nutritious meals. “Our only wish is for these children to grow up healthy and happy,” she said.
    The care center was established in 2015 under the support of central and regional governments and the donation of an insurance company, with a total spending of more than 58 million yuan (about 8.2 million U.S. dollars). The center has facilities including a massage therapy room, a dining hall and a laundry room. It also gives allowance to elderly people and children every month.
    Compared with the traditional charity institutions that separate children and elderly people, the two-in-one care center offers space as well as an atmosphere for social interactions like a big family, said Jampel, the legal representative of the center, adding that they also organize galas during festivals such as the Tibetan New Year.
    After a cup of buttered tea in the morning, Tseten, 83, likes to go to the sunlight hall during the weekends, with children surrounding him to hear his stories about his misery in the past when he was a serf.
    “I used to be whipped hard by the master for losing a yak. I had no time to wait for my wounds to heal and had to stand on my feet the next day to herd cattle,” said Tseten, who has been living in the center since 2016.
    Tseten was in a wheelchair due to his bad knees when he first arrived there. Now, with years of meticulous care and treatment from doctors from a Tibetan medicinal hospital and nurse assistants in the care center, he is able to walk without a cane.
    Lhadro, a nursing assistant, is responsible for caring for Tseten and five other elderly people. In addition to bringing buttered tea, doing the laundry and changing sheets regularly for them, she conducts massage therapies and applies Tibetan medicine for external use on them based on doctors’ prescriptions.
    “Seeing the elderly gradually regain their health, I have a great sense of achievement,” said Lhadro.
    In recent years, a total of 80 nursing homes for elderly people with extreme financial difficulties have been built in Xizang. By the end of 2022, more than 5,800 elderly people in extreme financial difficulty had been cared for at nursing homes with government support, according to government figures.
    A soccer player at school, Tsechok Dorje likes wearing his training vest even at “home” and dreams of becoming a professional soccer player when he grows up. On a wall in his room, where four children live in bunk beds, is a poster of the Brazilian soccer player Neymar.
    “I hope I can play soccer as well as Neymar someday,” Tsechok Dorje said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: BRICS helps build fairer, more equitable global governance system

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The BRICS mechanism contributes to building a fairer and more equitable global governance system, said a survey published Monday.

    The Global Survey: BRICS Cooperation in the New Era of Global Development 2024, conducted in 30 countries with 12,316 valid samples, showed the average recognition of the role of the BRICS mechanism in improving the global governance system reached 94.6 percent among the participants.

    The respondents believed that the BRICS mechanism would enhance the representation of developing countries in global governance and enhance the reform and improvement of the global governance system, the survey said.

    Such sentiment is stronger among developing countries, with recognition in the BRICS countries and other developing nations exceeding 95 percent, the survey noted, adding that countries like Russia, Brazil, Pakistan, Cuba, Peru and Mexico all have a recognition rate of over 96 percent.

    The survey was conducted from May to July 2024 by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies in collaboration with Beijing Dataway Technology Co. Ltd. It was released at the BRICS Seminar on Governance & Cultural Exchange Forum 2024 in Moscow.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: World leaders hail adoption of pact at UN Summit of the Future

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (at the podium) speaks at the Summit of the Future at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    As the Summit of the Future entered its second and final day at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday, leaders from the world body’s member countries continued to hail the adoption of the Pact for the Future, with Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations as its annexes.

    The pact and its annexes cover a broad range of themes including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations and the transformation of global governance.

    “The Summit of the Future is a high-level event, bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future,” said the world organization in its release. “This once-in-a-generation opportunity serves as a moment to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively tackle current challenges as well as those that have emerged in recent years or may yet be over the horizon.”

    President of Angola João Lourenço said that the adoption of the Pact for the Future represents “a real turning point” for a more dynamic, engaged and assertive approach to the issues that are of concern to the humanity. Stressing the importance of including youth and women as “vital drivers” of transformation and modernization, he called for a commitment “to step up the fight against poverty in all forms and dimensions.”

    President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel said that the Pact for the Future creates a solid base for a better and more effective multilateral system. Particularly, he insisted, it is critical to “contribute to our shared understanding of how to handle technology safely on a daily basis and protect ourselves against its misuse by malign actors.”

    President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa said that all global decisions and commitments must be determined with “the involvement and contribution of those who today can build tomorrow.” To tackle “the alarming and growing rates of youth unemployment” through targeted investment, he said that this is the only way “to pull youth from the grasp of crime, drugs and transnational organized criminal activities.”

    President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon said that the inclusion of climate and water issues in the final document “underscores the imperative for sustained and urgent action” to secure a peaceful and sustainable future. Despite some progress, “access to filtered water and sanitation remains insufficient,” he said, voicing the commitment of his country to enhancing collaboration with other nations to advance water resource management and climate change action.

    Albert II, Prince of Monaco, said that the Pact for the Future establishes a bedrock for a more prosperous world and allows young people to flourish in an environment protected from security threats such as transnational crime. “Peace is our most valuable asset,” he added, noting that without access to human rights, a world benefiting all people is impossible.

    Speaking on behalf of the least developed countries (LDCs) group, Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli said that millions of their children are going hungry every day, highlighting the clear inequality evident around the globe. “Nothing could be more unjust and ethnical than to be ignorant to the fact that millions of people in LDCs live in extreme poverty while a small minority in some corners of the world accumulate billions in wealth,” he said, noting that this is not the future that humanity should aspire towards. “The International community must act now to ensure every child and young person has the chance to thrive.”

    Nangolo Mbumba, president of Namibia, noted that the world is at a crossroads. One path leads to environmental catastrophe, widening inequality, global conflict, destruction and the rise of dangerous technology that threatens peoples’ security and civil liberties; the other, to peace, the eradication of poverty and hunger and the responsible harnessing of digital technologies for the benefit of humanity.

    Olaf Scholz, chancellor of Germany, urged those present to take steps towards a more peaceful, fairer world, stating that, while “the road ahead is rocky,” history will judge member states for their commitment to the plan at hand. The pact can serve as a compass towards cooperation instead of conflict, showing determination to restore international justice and expelling all the talk of polarization, he added.

    “We do not have time to waste,” stressed Sadyr Zhaparov, president of Kyrgyzstan, urging “decisive” action to strengthen the connections between nations and forge global partnerships to address challenges such as forced migration, climate threats and the unjust distribution of resources.

    Stressing that “inaction is not an option,” Chandrikapersad Santokhi, president of Suriname, pointed to Caribbean nations’ lack of financial resources to invest in health, education and infrastructure due to external debt.

    The failure to share global resources will continue to drive humanity to war, social disintegration and migration and “condemn us to live in two separate worlds”, said Mia Amor Mottley, prime minister of Barbados.

    “The future is not distant,” stressed Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, president of Ghana. “It is here, and the choices we make here will determine the fate of generations to come.” No nation, regardless of power, can solve today’s challenges alone, he stated.

    Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, highlighted the “great responsibilities to those who will succeed us,” and urged them not to back down from the promotion of equality between men and women and the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination. He also stressed that “we cannot live with nuclear threats again, nor fuel new arms races on Earth or in space,” noting that it is unacceptable to regress to a world divided into ideological borders or zones of influence.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Griffin Global Asset Management Announces Closing of $400 Million Senior Unsecured Notes Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBLIN, Ireland, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Griffin Global Asset Management (“Griffin”) announces the successful closing by GGAM Finance Ltd. of an offering of an aggregate principal amount of $400 million senior unsecured notes. The notes were priced at par.

    The offering comprises $400 million of 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2030 (the “Notes”). The Notes will be guaranteed by Griffin Global Asset Management Holdings, Ltd. and certain of its subsidiaries. Proceeds from the issuance will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include financing the acquisition of new aircraft deliveries and the future repayment of outstanding indebtedness.

    John Beekman, Griffin CFO, commented: “We are delighted to announce the closing of our latest unsecured notes offering. This issuance reaffirms our unwavering commitment to the unsecured capital markets and brings our total volume of unsecured notes issued to $2.5 billion in under 18 months. With the issuance of these notes we also disclosed that our secured warehouse was previously reduced to zero, which means inclusive of this issuance we currently have a fully unsecured balance sheet. We are grateful to our expanding investor base for the support they have shown us as we continue along our path to achieving investment grade ratings.”

    The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the securities laws of any jurisdiction and may be offered or sold only in a transaction exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Notes were offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue” or “believe” or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss our plans, strategies, prospects and expectations concerning our business, operating results, financial condition and other similar matters. We believe that it is important to communicate our future expectations to our investors. There may be events in the future, however, that we are not able to predict accurately or control. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date on which we make it. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    About Griffin Global Asset Management

    Griffin is a commercial aircraft leasing and alternative asset management business with offices in Dublin, Ireland, Puerto Rico, and Los Angeles, CA. Griffin’s team of professionals works closely with airlines, manufacturers, maintenance providers, and financiers to deliver innovative capital solutions globally.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: World leaders hail adoption of Pact for the Future

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (at the podium) speaks at the Summit of the Future at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    As the Summit of the Future entered its second and final day at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday, leaders from the world body’s member countries continued to hail the adoption of the Pact for the Future, with Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations as its annexes.

    The pact and its annexes cover a broad range of themes including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations and the transformation of global governance.

    “The Summit of the Future is a high-level event, bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future,” said the world organization in its release. “This once-in-a-generation opportunity serves as a moment to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively tackle current challenges as well as those that have emerged in recent years or may yet be over the horizon.”

    President of Angola João Lourenço said that the adoption of the Pact for the Future represents “a real turning point” for a more dynamic, engaged and assertive approach to the issues that are of concern to the humanity. Stressing the importance of including youth and women as “vital drivers” of transformation and modernization, he called for a commitment “to step up the fight against poverty in all forms and dimensions.”

    President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel said that the Pact for the Future creates a solid base for a better and more effective multilateral system. Particularly, he insisted, it is critical to “contribute to our shared understanding of how to handle technology safely on a daily basis and protect ourselves against its misuse by malign actors.”

    President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa said that all global decisions and commitments must be determined with “the involvement and contribution of those who today can build tomorrow.” To tackle “the alarming and growing rates of youth unemployment” through targeted investment, he said that this is the only way “to pull youth from the grasp of crime, drugs and transnational organized criminal activities.”

    President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon said that the inclusion of climate and water issues in the final document “underscores the imperative for sustained and urgent action” to secure a peaceful and sustainable future. Despite some progress, “access to filtered water and sanitation remains insufficient,” he said, voicing the commitment of his country to enhancing collaboration with other nations to advance water resource management and climate change action.

    Albert II, Prince of Monaco, said that the Pact for the Future establishes a bedrock for a more prosperous world and allows young people to flourish in an environment protected from security threats such as transnational crime. “Peace is our most valuable asset,” he added, noting that without access to human rights, a world benefiting all people is impossible.

    Speaking on behalf of the least developed countries (LDCs) group, Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli said that millions of their children are going hungry every day, highlighting the clear inequality evident around the globe. “Nothing could be more unjust and ethnical than to be ignorant to the fact that millions of people in LDCs live in extreme poverty while a small minority in some corners of the world accumulate billions in wealth,” he said, noting that this is not the future that humanity should aspire towards. “The International community must act now to ensure every child and young person has the chance to thrive.”

    Nangolo Mbumba, president of Namibia, noted that the world is at a crossroads. One path leads to environmental catastrophe, widening inequality, global conflict, destruction and the rise of dangerous technology that threatens peoples’ security and civil liberties; the other, to peace, the eradication of poverty and hunger and the responsible harnessing of digital technologies for the benefit of humanity.

    Olaf Scholz, chancellor of Germany, urged those present to take steps towards a more peaceful, fairer world, stating that, while “the road ahead is rocky,” history will judge member states for their commitment to the plan at hand. The pact can serve as a compass towards cooperation instead of conflict, showing determination to restore international justice and expelling all the talk of polarization, he added.

    “We do not have time to waste,” stressed Sadyr Zhaparov, president of Kyrgyzstan, urging “decisive” action to strengthen the connections between nations and forge global partnerships to address challenges such as forced migration, climate threats and the unjust distribution of resources.

    Stressing that “inaction is not an option,” Chandrikapersad Santokhi, president of Suriname, pointed to Caribbean nations’ lack of financial resources to invest in health, education and infrastructure due to external debt.

    The failure to share global resources will continue to drive humanity to war, social disintegration and migration and “condemn us to live in two separate worlds”, said Mia Amor Mottley, prime minister of Barbados.

    “The future is not distant,” stressed Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, president of Ghana. “It is here, and the choices we make here will determine the fate of generations to come.” No nation, regardless of power, can solve today’s challenges alone, he stated.

    Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, highlighted the “great responsibilities to those who will succeed us,” and urged them not to back down from the promotion of equality between men and women and the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination. He also stressed that “we cannot live with nuclear threats again, nor fuel new arms races on Earth or in space,” noting that it is unacceptable to regress to a world divided into ideological borders or zones of influence.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scalise, Louisiana Delegation Urge President Biden to Approve Major Disaster Declaration in Wake of Hurricane Francine

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

    JEFFERSON, La. – Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and the entire Louisiana delegation sent a letter to President Biden urging him to approve Governor Landry’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine that made landfall in Terrebonne Parish, La. on Wednesday.
     
    “We write in support of Governor Jeff Landry’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration in response to Hurricane Francine, which made landfall in Louisiana on September 11, 2024. As you know, Hurricane Francine formed as a Tropical Storm in the Gulf of Mexico on September 9, 2024, before intensifying and making landfall as a Category 2 hurricane. The storm brought heavy rainfall, a life-threatening storm surge, and sustained winds of 100 mph,” the letter reads.
     
    The full letter is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM, CAF Partner to Boost Sustainable and Inclusive Development in Latin America and the Caribbean

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    New York, 23 September – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean have today signed a technical cooperation agreement to address migration challenges in the region while tapping into the potential of migrants to drive sustainable and inclusive development.  

    “This agreement underscores a fundamental truth: migrants are agents of change and development,” said Amy Pope, IOM Director General. “Migrants bring skills, innovation, and unique perspectives that are essential for building resilient economies and vibrant communities. Collaborating with development finance institutions like CAF helps unlock the immense potential of migration to enrich societies around the world.”  

    Signed during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, this landmark initiative focuses on key aspects of migration management and its developmental impact. It aims to enhance local governments’ migration management capabilities, strengthen climate mobility policies and tools, analyze and disseminate information on migration’s economic impact in Latin America and the Caribbean, and foster dialogue on migrants’ economic integration.  

    “This strategic alliance between CAF and IOM marks a significant step towards understanding and leveraging migration as a catalyst for development in our region,” said Sergio Díaz-Granados, CAF’s Executive President. “We are committed to working alongside local governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector to build comprehensive solutions that benefit both migrants and their communities of origin and destination.”  

    This multidimensional and cross-cutting collaboration will enable a comprehensive approach to migration in Latin America and the Caribbean, enhancing the scope of the IOM-CAF partnership to promote sustainable and inclusive development in the region. This technical cooperation builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in May 2023 and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda, and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. 

    ***

    For more information, please contact:  

    Panama: Jorge Gallo, jgallo@iom.int 

    New York: Rahma Soliman, rsoliman@iom.int 

    Geneva: Daniela Rovina, drovina@iom.int 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global agriculture conference to be held in Beijing

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The 2024 World Agrifood Innovation Conference will be held in Beijing and will feature an array of events and activities, organizers announced at a press conference on Sept. 20. 

    Organizers brief reporters on preparations and events for the 2024 World Agrifood Innovation Conference during a press conference held in Pinggu district, Beijing, Sept. 20, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]

    This year’s conference, themed “Climate Change and Agrifood Systems Transformation,” is organized by China Agricultural University, the Pinggu District People’s Government of Beijing Municipality and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The conference will include an opening ceremony, forums, side events and an expo. It will take place at the Beijing Jinhai Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center in Pinggu district, Beijing, from Oct. 10 to 12.

    The conference is intended to unite international experts, policymakers, industry leaders and innovators to address unprecedented challenges due to climate change, exploring strategies and solutions to make agrifood systems more resilient, sustainable and adaptive.

    Since the inaugural World Agrifood Innovation Conference in 2023, the event has received high recognition from domestic and international colleagues, being considered as one of the top three agricultural events in the world. With the goal of becoming the “Davos of agriculture,” this year’s conference has been upgraded to be a premier global gathering for agricultural science and technology innovation. 

    According to organizers, attendees will explore topics that focus on agricultural science and technology innovation, foster cooperation between industries, universities and research institutes, as well as cultivate new drivers for agricultural development. 

    Over 60 leaders and representatives from nearly 30 international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), will participate in the conference. The FAO will also organize a Scientific Advisory Committee meeting and a youth dialogue for the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, marking the first time the hub’s important meetings will be held in China.

    During the conference, there will be a special event on China-Africa agricultural science and technology cooperation, as well as a parallel session on China-Brazil agricultural economic and trade cooperation and green development.

    Sun Qixin, president of China Agricultural University (CAU), revealed that this year, during the conference’s World Agricultural University Presidents’ Forum, CAU will further enhance both agricultural education and agricultural science and technology collaborations between China and Africa.

    “Especially, we will promote the effective model developed by China Agricultural University in Africa over the years for the application of scientific and technological research outcomes, so as to benefit more African countries,” he said.

    Besides Chinese academic institutions’ involvement in the conference, leading scientists and heads of major institutions of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) will also be participating. They will discuss with top Chinese agricultural scientists and entrepreneurs the potential for hosting multiple CGIAR-funded research projects in China.

    The conference will feature over 40 parallel sessions, thematic meetings and side events, fostering dialogues among scientists, educators, entrepreneurs and investors to seamlessly integrate technological innovation with industrial application. Closed-door meetings will also connect global top animal husbandry scientists with Chinese agricultural entrepreneurs to discuss technology applications within Chinese enterprises. Major announcements, including the Pinggu Declaration and key FAO and CGIAR reports on agricultural innovation, are anticipated to be released during the event.

    In addition to formal dialogues and lectures, the conference will also organize the 2024 World AgriFood Technology Expo, showcasing the latest achievements, cutting-edge technologies and innovative products in the global agrifood sector. 

    The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs foreshadowed significant commercialization achievements during the conference. Since 2023, the bureau has facilitated connections with 15 key laboratories under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and enabled 76 companies to launch projects in Beijing’s Pinggu district in fields like modern seed industry, smart agriculture and intelligent equipment. It was announced at the press conference that the China Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Port in Pinggu has entered the planning and construction phase, with plans to gradually introduce more national key laboratories, creating a cluster of labs focused on agricultural science and technology innovation.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Towards a new Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Foreign Ministers of Australia, Jordan, Switzerland, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil and Colombia gave a joint statement on the protection of humanitarian personnel.

    Statement by Foreign Ministers of Australia, Jordan, Switzerland, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil and Colombia:

    Australia, Jordan, Switzerland, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil and Colombia, today announced the formation of a Ministerial Group for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, dedicated to upholding and championing international humanitarian law and driving action to protect humanitarian personnel in conflict zones.

    International humanitarian law is the foundation for alleviating human suffering in wars. It limits the effects of armed conflict and regulates the conduct of hostilities. It provides for the protection of civilians, including the protection and respect of humanitarian personnel who assist and protect the victims of armed conflict, and notably provide the food, water and medical care that civilians in conflict zones need to survive.

    But respect for international humanitarian law is severely undermined, with consequences for current and future conflicts. Calls for compliance are not being heard.

    2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel, with 280 killed and hundreds more wounded and kidnapped. 2024 is on track to be even worse.

    This year alone, we have seen humanitarian personnel killed in Sudan, South Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen and many other contexts. Gaza is the most dangerous place on earth to be an aid worker, with over 300 humanitarian personnel killed since the start of the war.

    In forming this Ministerial Group, and in partnership with humanitarian organisations, we rededicate ourselves to the protection of humanitarian personnel. We stand together, seizing the momentum created by the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2730 in May 2024, to strengthen international commitment and translate it into action, to reverse current trends.

    The Ministerial Group has decided to pursue a Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.

    The Declaration will be developed over the coming months, and will demonstrate the unity of the international community’s commitment to protect humanitarian personnel and to channel that commitment into action in all current and future conflicts. All countries will be invited to join the Declaration.

    The Declaration will support the United Nations Secretary-General in his endeavours to improve the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, including in accordance with UNSCR 2730.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse calls for urgent action on countering gendered disinformation

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The governments of Australia, Chile, Denmark, France, Iceland, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, New Zealand, the UK and the USA gave this joint statement.

    Joint statement from the governments of Australia, Chile, Denmark, France, Iceland, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America:

    The undersigned country members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse (Global Partnership) call attention to the urgent need to counter the spread of gendered disinformation and address all forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) against women in political and public life.  

    Gendered disinformation is a threat to societies defending peaceful, democratic values. False or misleading gender and sex-based narratives are being used in campaigns by malign actors to deter and discredit the participation of women, girls and LGBTQI+ persons in political and public life. This not only causes deep harm to the individuals targeted, but also threatens electoral integrity, access to information and the exercise of freedom of expression. At the same time, new and emerging technologies are being used to enable harmful, violent rhetoric and attacks against women, girls and LGBTQI+ public figures across borders at a scale and speed previously unseen.

    In our 2023 Road Map, the Global Partnership committed to promoting the meaningful participation in public life for women and girls, in all their diversity, by countering TFGBV and gendered disinformation. 

    We welcome the work being done to shine a light on how and why gendered disinformation is conceived, who it targets and how it is spread. Last year, in a groundbreaking study, Canada, the European External Action Service, Germany, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, and the United States jointly assessed the tactics used by foreign state and non-state actors to sow gendered and other identity-based disinformation across the world.

    In March 2024 the Global Partnership and members of its Advisory Group co-hosted a multi-stakeholder conference convened by the National Democratic Institute on possible responses (PDF, 2.1 MB) to countering the spread of gendered disinformation in the context of electoral processes. Stakeholders affirmed the need for a comprehensive response to disrupt the spread of gendered disinformation and to support victims and survivors.

    The world is at a critical moment for upholding democracy. More than 100 countries have held, or are soon to be holding elections, many of them taking place under democratically challenging circumstances. The active participation of all people, including women, girls and LGBTQI+ persons, is essential for secure, healthy and prosperous democracies.   

    We call upon states to join us in recognising and taking action to counter the threat of gendered disinformation to democracies globally. We urge technology and other private companies to take appropriate action to respond to this threat, including a commitment to a Safety-by-Design approach to the development and deployment of platforms and technologies. We ask states and all stakeholders to defend and protect the ability of women, girls and LGBTQI+ persons to participate in public life freely, safely and without fear.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: AMERICA/PERU – Protecting the right to learning of indigenous populations: lack of bilingual teachers and adequate infrastructure

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: The Holy See in Italian

    Tuesday, September 24, 2024

    Iquitos (Agenzia Fides) – “We need authorities who are committed to defending the rights of girls, boys and adolescents of indigenous peoples, because they cannot continue to be set aside”. It is the voice of Mariluz Canaquiri, leader in Peru of the indigenous Amazonian Kukama Kukamiria, who speaks of the decline in education of indigenous peoples. “The authorities do not care about the education of indigenous children, there is no adequate infrastructure and there are no full-time bilingual teachers to teach them in our language,” emphasizes Canaquiri, who is also president of the Federation of Indigenous Women Kukama Kukamiria. Bilingual intercultural education (IBE) is a current educational policy in this South American country of 33 million inhabitants, with 55 recognized indigenous peoples, four Andean and 51 Amazonian. According to the results of the latest National Evaluation of Learning Outcomes (ENLA), published by the Ministry of Education, only 5.6% of fourth-grade primary school students (10 and 11 years old) of IBE institutions of the Amazonian population have achieved the expected results. “There is no bilingual intercultural education here,” said President Canaquiri. “How could they learn if our identity, our culture, our way of seeing the world are not valued in the school curriculum in any way, and in logistical conditions where the school building is an area covered with branches and trunks of trees with unbearable heat,” the leader stressed in a statement to an international non-governmental organization. Although the first policy in favor of the student population of indigenous peoples arose in 1972, more than half a century ago, it has always received little interest from the State, despite the IBE being part of their individual and collective human rights. “They hire teachers because they speak Quechua, Shipibo, Asháninka or the corresponding language, but when they go to school they do not apply the IBE. Sometimes they teach only in Spanish, other times they speak the children’s native language, but all the rest they read and write in Spanish,” an analyst reported. There are 24,000 schools throughout the country that follow the IBE, where most reinforce the students’ native language and teach them Spanish. The educational policy seeks to ensure that the indigenous school population is bilingual with oral and written skills, but according to studies carried out by local researchers, the country is going backwards. However, despite these precariousness, a small school in the peasant community of Accollya stands out positively, located in the municipality of Soccos, almost 3,400 meters above sea level, in the province of Huamanga, one of the 11 that make up Ayacucho. This is an Andean department that was hit hard by an internal armed conflict that Peru experienced between 1980 and 2000. Supported by an NGO, the school boasts a single teacher with 33 years of experience who has always been committed to bilingual intercultural education, following training and in-depth courses. “I work from Monday to Thursday in Spanish and on Fridays in Quechua, using the notebooks that the ministry sends us for each topic,” said the woman who is the only teacher of 10 pupils in first, second and third grade, aged between six and eleven. “The children’s response is very good, from first grade they acquire reading and writing skills, now it’s September and the youngest are already reading. It’s the advantage of teaching different classes because they motivate each other,” the teacher stressed. Furthermore, we must not forget the important contribution of the Catholic Church in the Amazon in the field of education and healthcare where it has often been a substitute for the State, arriving where it is not, even today. Hundreds of missionaries throughout history have been true promoters of respect for human dignity. Religious and lay people from dozens of countries have given their lives in the most remote places with the aim of making the Amazon a place of coexistence and respect for the dignity and rights of all, especially the most vulnerable, largely indigenous peoples. Among other initiatives in favor of learning and the formation of school libraries in these areas, it is worth highlighting the participation of the ‘yachac’, the wise men of the community, who hold intergenerational meetings encouraging the practice of reading among students and their families. The indigenous school population at the national level is estimated at 1.2 million, the vast majority are Quechua (700,000) and Aymara (300,000) from the Andean areas of the country, and the rest from Amazonian languages such as Asháninka, Shipibo Konibo, Awajún, among others. The Kukama Kukamiria people live mainly in the department of Loreto, the largest of the Peruvian Amazon. According to data from the Ministry of Culture, the population of the Kukama Kukamiria communities is estimated at 37,053 people. Among these, 1,185 declared that they speak the Kukama Kukamiria language, which corresponds to 0.02% of the total native languages at the national level. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 24/9/2024) Share:

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Join the Yo! Active revolution with more exciting activities on offer

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The City of Wolverhampton Council has teamed up with Wolves Foundation to run Yo! Active. The Foundation is providing up to 40 hours of free activities every week at the council’s WV Active leisure centres, community centres and other locations around the city, while free swimming, gym sessions and court bookings are also available.

    The wide ranging programme is open to residents of Wolverhampton aged up to 18, or 25 for care leavers or young adults with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), and includes family fun, tots and SEND swim sessions at WV Active Bilston Bert Williams, and badminton, table tennis, short tennis and pickleball and tennis at WV Active Aldersley.

    Pickleball is also available to 8 to 12 year olds at The Way Youth Zone – participants will have access to the other facilities available within the centre too.

    Yo! Active Multisport, including football, badminton, tennis, basketball and others, is available at WV Active Aldersley while SEND multisport sessions for 5 to 18 year olds take place at WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams.

    Free scooter, skate and BMX ramp sessions are available to 6 to 16 year olds at Just Ramps Indoor Skatepark, Waterside Industrial Estate, while Kacey’s Performer Academy offers Yo! Active Dance sessions for children aged 6 plus at Our Lady and St Chads Catholic Academy, Old Fallings Lane.

    Youth gyms for young people aged 14 to 18 are available at WV Active Aldersley, Bilston-Bert Williams and Central, and for 8 to 16 year olds at the Bob Jones Community Hub, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 4 to 16 year olds is on offer at Wolves BJJ, Cockshutt Lane. Meanwhile, young people are invited to get together and hire the astro turf at WV Active Aldersley for a 5 a side game of football, hockey practice, or for general outdoor activities.

    To find out more, please visit Activities with Yo! Active. All sessions are available on a first come, first served basis and are subject to availability. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult.

    To take part, eligible children and young people need a free Yo! Active subscription and must first set up a free WV Active account. Accounts can be created either online at WV Active, by calling 01902 551010 or by visiting WV Active Aldersley, WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams or WV Active Central. Please note, WV Active accounts for under 16s must be created by a parent or guardian.

    Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “We’ve had a great response to Yo! Active, and it’s amazing that nearly 10,000 children and young people are signed up and enjoying the fantastic activities on offer.

    “I’d encourage parents and guardians to get their free Yo! Active subscription so that youngsters can book places and enjoy access to high quality and free activities all year round.”

    Meanwhile, the Yo! Wolves holiday programme will return for the October half term holidays, offering hundreds of free and low cost activities throughout the week. Find out more about what’s on where at Yo! Wolverhampton Young Opportunities shortly.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Background Press Call on President  Biden’s Engagements at  UNGA

    Source: The White House

    Via Teleconference

    5:33 P.M. EDT

    MODERATOR:  This is Michael Feldman with the NSC press team.  Just as a reminder for today’s call, it is on background and attributable to senior administration officials.  The call is also under embargo until 5:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time tomorrow morning.

    For awareness and not for attribution, on today’s call we have [senior administration official] and [senior administration official].  I will now turn the call over to [senior administration official] to give some opening remarks.  Over to you.

    SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Excellent.  Thank you.  And good evening, everybody.  We’re very excited for the President’s trip to this year’s U.N. General Assembly, the last one of his presidency. 

    So, at meetings at the U.N. this week, we’re going to get a lot of business done for the American people.  The President, the Secretary of State, other Cabinet officials, and even some members of Congress are here in New York to advocate for our country’s interests and values. 

    At the General Assembly, the President will do what he has done throughout his presidency: rally global action to tackle some of our world’s biggest challenges.  So, for example, he’ll be talking this week about the climate crisis and the environment.  We’ll be talking about the need to strengthen our systems for providing humanitarian assistance; to end brutal wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan; and we’ll also be talking about the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence. 

    When President Biden came to office nearly four years ago, he pledged to restore American leadership on the world stage.  And given that this is the President’s last General Assembly, it’s a chance for him to talk about how this approach has produced results, real achievements for the American people and for the world. 

    The President’s engagements this week reflect his vision for a world where countries come together to solve big problems.  This stands in contrast to some of our competitors, who have a more cynical and transactional worldview, one where countries interpret their self-interest very narrowly and don’t work together for the common good. 

    An overarching theme at this year’s General Assembly will be the need to reform and strengthen our global institutions, including the U.N., to make them more effective and inclusive.  And that’s been a big theme of the U.N. Secretary-General’s Summit for the Future, the marquee event at high-level week this year. 

    Last week, President Biden released a video message ahead of the summit.  I encourage you all watch it.  You can find it on the Web.  In the video, the President spoke about using this moment to reaffirm our commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  And he talked about pushing for a stronger, more effective United Nations and a reformed and expanded Security Council.  And he also talked about our efforts, investing billions in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building on the global consensus that we achieved last spring in the United Nations General Assembly on principles for the use of artificial intelligence. 

    We’re going into a General Assembly this year with the world facing many steep challenges, problems so big no one country can solve them on their own, but that’s why the President feels so strongly the world needs strong and effective global institutions, including an adapted United Nations.  This is his vision of countries working together.  It has been a theme of his presidency and an important part of his legacy. 

    Let me just briefly note the President’s key engagements, and then I’ll turn over to my colleague to discuss the major event that he’s hosting on the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats. 

    On Tuesday morning, tomorrow, he will deliver and address to the U.N. General Assembly.  It will have many of the themes that I’ve mentioned here and talk about — again, some of the achievements of his approach to the United Nations and global cooperation. 

    The President will also meet tomorrow with U.N. Secretary-General Guterres to talk about how the United States and the United Nations are working together to advance peace, safeguard human rights, and help countries develop. 

    On Tuesday afternoon, the President will host a summit of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, and I’ll turn over to my colleague in a second to talk about that. 

    The President is also giving a major address later that afternoon on the urgent need to combat climate change. 

    On Wednesday, the President will meet with the President of Vietnam, To Lam.  The President of Vietnam just came into office four months ago, and this meeting will be an important opportunity for the two leaders to talk about our shared interest in stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia. 

    The President will also attend, that afternoon, a meeting focused on Ukraine reconstruction with other world leaders. 

    And then on Wednesday evening, at the Met, the President will host world leaders and senior U.N. officials for a reception. 

    This is just a small slice of all the diplomacy and business that we’re doing here at the U.N. General Assembly.  There’ll be high-level meetings on the future of multilateral cooperation, sea level rise, antimicrobial resistance.  Really, every big, major challenge will be addressed here, and we’ll have senior U.S. representatives at all of these main events on issues such as the impact of emerging technology and specific meetings on global crises such as the difficult situation in Haiti, Sudan, Venezuela, Ukraine, Syria, and the Rohingya refugee crisis. 

    Other U.S.-hosted and U.S.-attended side events will focus on climate; scaling clean energy for Africa; a major core group meeting of countries committed to LGBTQ rights that was attended by the First Lady; and partnering for a lead-free future. 

    So, again, this is just a small slice of everything that is going on, plus the countless private sector and civil society events focusing on the great challenges of the 21st century. 

    So, as I mentioned, we’re going to use this high-level week, the President’s last U.N. General Assembly, to get as much done for the American people in the coming days.

    I’d like to now turn over to my colleague who will discuss the President’s summit on the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.

    SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Great.  Thanks so much, and thanks to all of you for joining this call. 

    I wanted to share with you the exciting news that, on Tuesday, President Biden will, as [senior administration official] already said, host a summit of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.  This is a coalition that President Biden launched in June 2023 to mobilize international action to tackle the synthetic drug crisis. 

    In just over one year, this global coalition has grown to include 158 countries and 15 international organizations working together to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, to detect emerging drug threats, and to promote effective public health interventions. 

    With the summit as a motivating force, we now have 11 core coalition countries that will be joining the President tomorrow, and they will be announcing new initiatives that will continue to advance the work of the coalition, including work to prevent, detect, and disrupt the supply chain of synthetic drugs. 

    It’s important to emphasize that these international efforts complement intensive work that’s already been done and is being done domestically, including an increased focus on coordinated disruption of drug trafficking networks and concerted efforts to make the opioid overdose reversal medication, naloxone, widely available over the counter. 

    These are just some of a wide array of actions that the Biden-Harris administration has taken to tackle the synthetic drug threats. 

    And as a result of these efforts, we’re starting to see the largest drop in overdose deaths in recorded history.  When President Biden and Vice President Harris came into office, the number of drug overdose deaths was increasing by more than 30 percent year over year.  Now we have the latest provisional data released from the Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics, showing an unprecedented decline in overdose deaths of roughly 10 percent from April 2023 to April 2024.

    But there’s a lot more to be done, and the Global Coalition’s work recognizes that we need a global solution to a global problem. 

    We are thrilled that we have so many countries coming together tomorrow to celebrate the work of the coalition, and we also will be announcing a new pledge that all of the core coalition members will be announcing — will be signing on to tomorrow, and we will be working over the coming months to ensure that all coalition members sign on to this pledge. 

    And we truly think that this is a reflection of President Biden’s commitment to work both domestically and globally on the most important challenges that we face, recognizing that we need both domestic action and global action working together. 

    And with that, I’ll turn it back to [senior administration official].

    SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thanks, Michael.  I’ll turn it back to you. 

    MODERATOR:  All right.  Thank you, [senior administration officials].  All right, with that, we will take some questions. 

    The first question is going to go to Zeke Miller.  You should be able to unmute yourself. 

    Q    Thanks so much for doing this.  You mentioned this is the President’s last U.N. of his presidency.  He’s going to deliver remarks to the General Assembly tomorrow.  Can you give us a preview, potentially, of what his message will be?  And will it be different from his prior remarks, in the sense — you know, obviously, world events have changed, but, you know, with an eye towards his legacy?  Or is there some message he’s trying to give on the world stage before he leaves office in January?  Thank you.

    SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  You know, the themes I — thanks, Zeke.  The themes I previewed at the beginning will be really central to the President.  So, again, he came into office four years ago with a vision of America returning to the world stage, having a new way of interacting with other countries, bringing countries together to solve some of these big challenges.  This will be a good opportunity for him to look at the results that have been achieved. 

    We live in a world with many problems, with many divisions, but we have a story to tell about what we’ve done to rally the world to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty, uphold principles of the U.N. Charter; what we’ve done to manage responsibly our competition with other countries including China; and also what we’re doing to deal with the ongoing and serious conflicts in our world in places like Gaza, where the President has worked tirelessly to get a hostage ceasefire deal, and conflicts like Sudan, where you have absolutely unprecedented displacement and a really serious crisis that we think needs to get more attention. 

    So I think that will be the frame, and I’ll leave the details for the President’s speech tomorrow.

    MODERATOR:  Great.  Thank you very much.  Our next question is going to go to Asma Khalid.  You should be able to unmute yourself.

    Q    Yes.  Hi.  Thanks for doing this.  Similarly, sort of on the speech, could I get a sort of broad, I guess, framework or tone that you all are thinking about?  I know you say that the President came into office talking about building international coalitions, wanting to rebuild the United States stature on the world, but this is a really different moment than when the President even gave the speech last year, before October 7th.  He is now leaving office, and there are multiple sort of intractable problems right now in the world.  And can you just kind of give us any sense of tone in how the President is thinking about that and the very limited time he has left to solve them?

    SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thanks, Asma.  Look, I think it’s a good question.  The world has changed.  The world has gotten more difficult in many ways, as you noted. 

    But, you know, as I said, the President came into office with a vision of how countries need to work together, how they need to work through institutions, how they need to partner to solve big global challenges.  And the fact that we do have these challenges, the fact that we do have Gaza, the fact that we do have Ukraine and Sudan, still serious issues in our world, just underscores the need for that kind of cooperation.  And I think you’ll hear that in his speech. 

    Yes, he’ll talk about the significant accomplishments, achievements of his approach, but also talk about how we need the spirit, we need to continue working together to solve these big challenges, whether it is the wars you mentioned or other challenges such as the climate crisis or managing the implications of some of the new technologies. 

    So I think this will be an important moment to say: Where do we go and what are the principles in which we’re going to solve these problems?  Thanks.

    MODERATOR:  Thank you very much.  Our next question is going to go to Paris Huang.  You should be able to unmute yourself. 

    Q    All right.  Hi.  Thank you, Michael.  Thank you, [senior administration official].  Two-parts question.  So, kind of follow up on the questions from Zeke and Asma.  So, of course, we know China and Russia have been heavily influencing the U.N. for years.  You know, we see all those voting records.  And President Biden have been doing a lot of reform during the four years.  Does he believe that those changes will sustain after he leaves the White House?

    And second question: In last year’s UNGA remarks, President Biden talked about the peace and stability of Taiwan Strait, which was the first time a U.S. president actually talked about Taiwan at the UNGA.  So, will he include Taiwan again in his remarks this year?  Thank you.

    SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thanks.  And I appreciate the question.  I think it’s a good question in terms of, you know, have we left the United Nations as an institution better off.  I think we do have results, and the President will talk about that.  You know, it’s a time of great divisions, and the U.N. has already been — has always been a reflection of the world as it is. 

    That said, when you look at what we’ve done, including through the United Nations, to, for example, rally the world to defend the U.N. Charter after the Ukrainian invasion, we secured a U.N. General Assembly resolution in which 141 countries stood up and said, “We condemn this, and we stand in favor of the U.N. Charter.”

    You’ve also seen a more progressive and forward-leaning position on institutional reform.  For example, two years ago, the President announced a shift and a more forward-leaning position in reforming and expanding the United Nations Security Council.  And that’s definitely a piece of this well as well. 

    I won’t get into the details on, you know, specifically what he’ll mention on individual issues, but I will say that an important part of the President’s legacy has been thinking about how we responsibly manage our competition with China, and that includes many facets, economic security, and those will be addressed in the speech.

    MODERATOR:  Thank you very much.  Our next question is going to go to Sheryl Gay Stolberg.  You should be able to unmute yourself, Sheryl.

    Q    Hi.  Thank you for doing this call.  You know, this is not a political speech, but it does occur in the context of an election in which one of the candidates has an isolationist vision that is far apart, diametrically opposed to that of the President.  And I’m wondering, to what extent can the President use this speech to ensure that his own vision of global alliances survives?  Is he concerned that that vision will unravel?

    And will this speech be in any way directed to the American people, as much as to world leaders, as a reminder of the importance of America’s place in the world?

    SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Look, as you said, this is not a political speech, but the President, again, he has a vision.  He came into a vision — into office.  That vision has produced results.  And there are many opponents and critics of that vision, not just internationally but at home.  It has been the President’s view that he needs to explain why this vision of working together with countries to solve these big challenges actually produces results, and that’s actually how we’re going to be measured. 

    And when I say “produces results,” that means internationally, in terms of ending war, in terms of tackling challenges like sustainable development, the debt crisis, climate, but it also means that he needs to explain how his vision has produced results for the American people.  And that’s where I think there’s a very strong record, and some of it is very, very tangible. 

    For example, the summit on the coalition on synthetic drugs, that is him bringing together countries, all of whom share a challenge — dealing with synthetic drugs — but convening them here, talking about deliverables, talking about how we’re going to work together.  And this is something that directly affects the situation of the American public, as my colleague briefed earlier, in terms of the overall record on issues like fentanyl. 

    So I think he’ll lay that out tomorrow, and I think it will stand as representing that vision and what it’s achieved.

    MODERATOR:  Thank you very much.  We will go to Danny Kemp.  You should be able to unmute yourself.

    Q    Thanks very much for doing this.  I just wanted to ask about the current situation in the Middle East.  I mean, you know, the speech tomorrow is really going to be a bit overshadowed by the events in Lebanon, where we’ve seen nearly 500 people killed in the space of a day.  How’s he going to address that?  And more particularly, how will the President be seeking to — will he be talking to other leaders about that?  What’s he actually going to be doing at the UNGA more generally to try and get this thing sorted out?  Thanks.

    SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  This is one of the advantages of the U.N. General Assembly: You literally have the whole world here.  So when you do have crises of the day, they’ll be addressed.  And I have no doubt that the situation in the Middle East will be an important theme in a lot of the meetings, not just that the President has, but other senior U.S. officials who will be convening to talk about various aspects of the crisis and what we can do to stabilize the situation. 

    He will address the Middle East, especially this very, very difficult year that we have all gone through.  And again, I think it’s an opportunity to talk about what we have achieved and what we still need to do, given a situation that is just heartbreaking where hostages have not been returned, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and, as you know, just such a sensitive issue, such a delicate and dangerous situation between Israel and Lebanon right now.

    Thanks.

    MODERATOR:  Thank you very much.  And unfortunately, that is all the time we have today.  Thank you all for joining this call.  Thank you to our speakers.  And feel free to follow up with our team at the NSC press team with any questions. 

    And again, this call is under embargo until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow.  Thank you all again, and hope you have a great rest of your evening.

    5:53 P.M. EDT

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ministerial Discussion on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English

    New York, 23.09.2024 – Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) – Check against delivery

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    This ministerial discussion occurs amid a concerning global backdrop, with over 120 armed conflicts ongoing worldwide.

    As a result, millions of people require humanitarian aid and protection, while humanitarian and UN personnel face growing threats, often becoming targets of attacks.

    Switzerland is alarmed by the rising violence against humanitarian workers, which is sometimes deliberately directed at them.

    A concrete step was taken in May: my country introduced Security Council resolution 2730 on the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel, addressing this alarming trend. The resolution was adopted with the support of 98 UN Member States. I extend my thanks to all these States, especially Brazil for its initial work on the resolution.

    This resolution is crucial for three reasons:

    1. It reaffirms the obligations of States and parties in armed conflicts to respect and protect humanitarian and UN personnel, including national and local staff.

    2. It condemns attacks on these personnel and urges States to ensure accountability for related violations.

    3. It mandates the Secretary-General to submit recommendations to the Security Council within six months to prevent and address such attacks and combat impunity.

    These recommendations focus on concrete actions. They are currently being prepared, and we look forward to receiving them in November.

    Excellencies

    Humanitarian personnel are a lifeline for millions of civilians worldwide, risking their lives daily to assist and protect those affected by armed conflict.

    We must safeguard their ability to carry out this vital work and reaffirm our commitment to their protection.

    With so many conflicts raging and civilians suffering so much, we must step up our efforts to ensure respect for international humanitarian law and strengthen the political will to build a more humane world.

    Thank you.

    Address for enquiries

    FDFA Communication
    Federal Palace West Wing
    CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
    Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
    E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
    Twitter: @SwissMFA

    Publisher

    Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
    https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: WTO advanced course on trade in services concludes in Geneva

    Source: WTO

    Headline: WTO advanced course on trade in services concludes in Geneva

    The LDCs participating in the course were Bangladesh, Madagascar, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Nepal, Tanzania, The Gambia and Zambia. The acceding country was Bhutan. The full list of participating economies is available here.
    Over five days, participants engaged in an intensive curriculum designed to deepen their understanding of the WTO’s General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). The course covered the economic importance of services trade, domestic regulation, the impact of digital trade on economies’ trade performance, investment facilitation and environmental services. Participants were also able to analyze and formulate effective trade policies by gaining hands-on experience with analytical tools like the I-TIP database and services trade statistics.
    The programme included a mix of presentations, practical exercises and in-depth discussions on emerging trade in services issues. Participants were particularly engaged in sessions on the latest developments in digital trade and the regulatory challenges associated with services trade. Interactive sessions allowed participants to apply their know-how to real-case scenarios, reinforcing their capacity to navigate complex trade issues.
    Upon completing the course, Mr Hugo Ibarra said: “In my work at the Undersecretariat of Economic Affairs, which reports to Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am frequently in contact with the WTO for notifications of trade policies and other issues linked to the fulfilment of Chile’s WTO commitments. I also regularly refer to the GATS in our negotiation process for trade agreements. For these reasons, this type of course plays a very important role in our daily work.”
    Mr Kutubo Jarju, a participant from The Gambia’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, said: “As a trade professional engaged in multilateral and regional trade negotiations, my primary expectation from this advanced course was to significantly deepen my expertise in the evolving services trade landscape. The course provided me with an enriched understanding of the current issues, challenges and opportunities of services trade, particularly in the context of global and regional agreements.”
    Ms Lavita Chan from Hong Kong, China’s Trade and Industry Department said: “I highly recommend the Advanced Trade in Services Course for government officials with services negotiation background and experience. Needless to say, the course contents were wide ranging, informative, up-to-date and inspirational. I was particularly impressed by the participants’ enthusiasm in sharing their points of view and domestic experience while the case studies and examples helped enrich our understanding and clarify complicated concepts. The participant-led reviews every morning were a very useful way to consolidate everything we learned and to promote teamwork.”
    The course was organized jointly by the WTO Trade in Services Division and the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation.
    List of participants
    ARGENTINA
    Ms Estefania Donna
    BAHRAIN
    Ms Meead Alansari
    BANGLADESH
    Mr Saif Uddin Ahammad
    BHUTAN
    Mr Choki Tshewang
    CABO VERDE
    Ms Ludmilde Filomena Celso Silva Fernandes Semedo
    CHILE
    Mr Hugo Ibarra
    CHINA
    Ms Yi WANG
    C�TE D’IVOIRE
    Ms Mariam Deme
    ECUADOR
    Ms Estefania Anais Mejia Ramos
    HONG KONG, CHINA
    Ms Mo Ying Chan
    JORDAN
    Mr Qusai Al-Tarawneh
    KENYA
    Ms Elizabeth Gathoni Miguda-Alila
    LAO PDR
    Mr Nongchith Khambounheuang
    MADAGASCAR
    Mr Fetra Herisoa Ramankirahina
    MOROCCO
    Mr Othmane Maktoum
    NICARAGUA
    Ms Yeseila Baca Cuadra
    PAKISTAN
    Ms Onsia Zafar
    PHILIPPINES
    Mr Anthony Aguirre
    REPUBLIC OF KOREA
    Ms Aeseon Kim
    SEYCHELLES
    Ms Demelza Tanisha Nathalie Valentin
    SRI LANKA
    Mr Premathilake Jayakody Batagolle Gedara
    SURINAME
    Ms Urtha Charlane Hoever
    CHINESE TAIPEI
    Ms Yun-Xuan Lin
    TANZANIA
    Ms Angelina Stephen Bwana
    THE GAMBIA
    Mr Kutubo Jarju
    TUNISIA
    Ms Noura Ben Mohamed
    UKRAINE
    Mr Vitaliy Kunatenko
    ZAMBIA
    Ms Mbewe Chikondi

    Share

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – GlobalData raises global economic growth projection for 2024 to 2.52%

    Source: GlobalData

    The global economy is navigating through a complex landscape marked by persistent geopolitical tensions. Nevertheless, easing inflationary pressure, central bank rate cuts (including by the ECB), and stronger consumer spending are mitigating these issues. 

    Against this backdrop, GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, has revised the global economic growth forecast for 2024 to 2.52% in its Q3 2024 update, marking a slight increase of 0.05 percentage points (pp) from earlier projections in Q2 2024.

    In the “Global Macroeconomic Outlook – Q3 2024 Update,” GlobalData has revised economic growth projections for the Americas and Europe upward. The Americas’ forecast increased by 0.11 pp to 2.16%, driven by strong consumer spending, easing inflation, and rising real incomes. Increased private domestic business investments are also expected to support the region’s economic resilience. 

    Europe’s growth projection rose by 0.21 pp to 1.38%, supported by higher real disposable incomes from stable wage growth and lower inflation, along with the recent ECB rate cuts, which are expected to stimulate the economic activity.

    Conversely, forecasts for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and the Middle East & Africa (MEA) were reduced by 0.08 and 0.25 pps, respectively, to 2.59% and 3.57%. In MEA, the ongoing conflicts, oil market volatility, and shipping disruptions hinder the growth. For APAC, China’s economic slowdown, domestic challenges, and geopolitical tensions contributed to the downward revision.

    Arnab Nath, Associate Project Manager, Economic Research Team at GlobalData, comments: “The slight upward revision in the global growth forecasts for 2024 reflects cautious optimism amid persistent geopolitical tensions. The resilience of key economies, including the US, which witnessed economic growth of 3% on an annual basis in Q2 2024 up from 1.4% in Q1, and the Eurozone, which achieved its strongest expansion in over a year at 0.6% in Q2 2024, contributes to this positive outlook.

    “Gradual recoveries in the emerging markets will further bolster the projections. The major central banks, including the ECB, have commenced rate cuts, with the US Federal Reserve anticipated to follow suit, which may stimulate investments. However, central banks must tread carefully to avoid reigniting inflation or creating financial imbalance to ensure a balanced economic recovery.”

    GlobalData forecasts the global inflation rate to decrease from 5.8% in 2023 to 4.5% in 2024, with a further decline to 3.7% anticipated by 2025. In 2024, the inflation rate is expected to decrease in all regions: the Americas, excluding Argentina and Venezuela (dropping to 5% in 2024 from 7.5% in 2023), Asia-Pacific (decreasing to 5% from 6.9%), Europe (declining to 4.3% from 7.8%), and the Middle East and Africa (falling to 22.1% from 27%).

    Easing price pressure boosted the economic sentiment in major economies. According to GlobalData analysis using data from OECD, between January and June 2024, consumer and business confidence have risen considerably compared to the average of the previous six months in major economic groups, including the G20 and G7 countries. The rise in consumer confidence indicates robust consumer spending potential, which could bolster domestic demand and economic resilience.

    Meanwhile, global political shifts indicated by the 2024 election cycle will have economic implications, including changes in trade policies, regulatory frameworks, and market stability. Far-right gains in Europe could result in protectionist measures, affecting international trade.

    In South Korea and the UK, liberal victories may bring reforms that encourage foreign investment and market liberalization. Declining support for ruling parties in India and South Africa suggests potential instability, while voter dissatisfaction in Russia and Bangladesh signals economic uncertainty in these regions. These changes are likely to test global economic resilience.

    Nath concludes: “While global growth is expected to remain stable, varying regional dynamics and persistent risks from geopolitical tensions may significantly shape the economic outlook for 2024 and 2025, necessitating careful observation of policy shifts and market trends.”

    Notes

    Quotes provided by Arnab Nath, Associate Project Manager, Economic Research Team at GlobalData
    The information is based on GlobalData’s latest report: Global Macroeconomic Outlook – Q3 2024 Update (ref. https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/global-pestle-macroeconomic-analysis/?utm_source=cision&utm_medium=press%20release&utm_campaign=gd_press%20release_cision_bf_global%20economy_report )

    About GlobalData

    4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis, and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology, and professional services sectors.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Business and Tech – 25 Disruptive Technology Startups Join Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab’s 10th Cohort

    Source: Morgan Stanley

    • Tenth Lab cohort includes 25 disruptive technology and technology-enabled startups from the Americas and EMEA
    • Five-month accelerator program to provide founders with $250,000 (£250,000) investment, as well as mentorship and business-growth resources
    • 117 companies have participated in the Lab to date.

    Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced the 2024 global cohort of the Inclusive Ventures Lab, with 25 companies selected from the Americas and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Over the next five months, the companies will participate in an in-house accelerator program designed to further develop and scale technology and technology-enabled startups in the seed to Series A funding round stage.

    Chosen from thousands of applications, the 25 startups represent a range of disruptive technologies across industries such as Climate Tech, Retail, Healthcare, FinTech, SaaS, Enterprise Software, Consumer and Travel – with many incorporating AI and sustainability into their products and services. Cohort companies will receive a $250,000 investment (£250,000 in EMEA) from Morgan Stanley, as well as a variety of mentorship opportunities, a tailored entrepreneurship curriculum and business-growth resources from the firm’s ecosystem of internal and external partners.

    “In today’s challenging venture capital environment, we are proud to welcome our largest cohort of groundbreaking startups to the Inclusive Ventures Lab and are eager to support them as they scale their innovations and work to build a better world,” said Selma Bueno, Global Head of the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Group. “Each year since the Inclusive Ventures Lab’s launch in 2017, we have expanded our efforts to ensure that more entrepreneurs around the world can succeed – and this year is no different.”

    The companies selected to participate in the 2024 cohort include the following:

    • Agri-Trak digitizes small farm operations with a smart platform for real-time labor, crop yield and cost tracking to optimize productivity, sustainability and profitability (US)
    • Beta Financial provides a transparent and comprehensive small business credit scoring solution, fostering financial inclusion and access to capital through innovative AI-driven technology (US)
    • Blip Energy is building a drop-in distributed energy resource to mitigate surging peak demand, optimize energy costs for users and reduce operating costs for utilities (US)
    • Compare Ethics is an AI-powered sustainability compliance platform that reduces costs by helping retail brands simplify, streamline and scale the way they make accurate green claims (UK)
    • Darent is a vacation rental marketplace platform in Saudi Arabia for travelers to search for properties with a focus on local experiences, a secure payment system and property insurance for hosts (Saudi Arabia)
    • For The Creators is an omni-channel circular fashion marketplace where women can rent and buy high-quality clothing for each stage of motherhood (UK)
    • GroceryList is a marketplace connecting immigrants worldwide with local merchants across Latin America and the Caribbean, enabling them to purchase groceries and essentials for their loved ones back home (US)
    • HANX is a consumer platform bringing together medically designed women’s reproductive health products, prescription treatments and community-focused content (UK)
    • Hire Ground is a B2B software platform that enables enterprise buyers to source and manage third party vendors while optimizing their procurement process (US)
    • Infinite Giving is a fintech platform that enables nonprofits to raise money, manage their cash reserves, and conservatively invest and grow (US)
    • Juniver is a health company leveraging AI technology to provide personalized digital interventions for lasting eating disorder recovery (UK)
    • KSI Vision uses existing AI on store and shopping center security cameras to generate real-time customer data and increase sales conversion (Uruguay)
    • Mavity is an AI-powered operating system for design and marketing teams that connects companies with on-demand creatives to streamline asset creation (US)
    • MyARC is a platform that enables fitness content creators to train their fans at scale (UK)
    • NÜWIEL provides electric mobility solutions for the cities of today and tomorrow (Germany)
    • OVUM is a one-stop shop for fertility wellness, providing educational resources, products and services for improving fertility outcomes (UK)
    • Research Grid is an automation engine for admin-free clinical trials (UK)
    • Revere is reinventing how allocators manage their alternative asset portfolios through AI, workflow automation tools and custom reporting (US)
    • Route is a platform of business management tools for commercial cleaning companies to automate sales, streamline operations, build contractor relationships and connect the entire cleaning industry (US)
    • Sanarai connects the Latino community to mental health professionals in Latin America and the US to offer culturally sensitive, Spanish-language emotional support at accessible prices (US)
    • Soralink leverages AI and smart sensors to assist manufacturers in preventing critical machine failures (Canada)
    • Sortile provides the textile industry with a system that enables the identification, traceability and recycling of textiles (US)
    • SWYE360 Learning is a data analytics company that uses machine learning and AI in education to measure software efficacy and detect students at risk of dropping out (US)
    • Tendo Technologies addresses the challenges faced by aspiring online retail entrepreneurs in Africa by connecting independent resellers to suppliers (Ghana)
    • Zest Equity is digitizing private market transactions, building tools to streamline and ensure greater transparency in how entrepreneurs, funds and investors transact (UAE).

    Programming will culminate in February 2025 with a global Demo Day, when participating companies will present to potential investors, business partners and customers. The investment firms in attendance at the last showcase represented over $40 billion of dry powder and indicated a high level of interest following the event.

    About the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab
    The Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab (MSIVL) is an intensive five-month in-house accelerator program designed to help further develop and scale startups, culminating in a showcase presentation and Demo Day to the investor community. Morgan Stanley launched MSIVL, formerly called the Multicultural Innovation Lab, in 2017 in order to address inequities in funding of startup founders, which our research shows equals over four trillion dollars in unrealized returns.

    About Morgan Stanley
    Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in 42 countries, the Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: President  Biden and Vice President Harris Are Delivering for Latino  Communities

    Source: The White House

    Since Day One, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to ensure every community—including Latino communities—can access a quality education, obtain a good-paying job, own a home, start a business, and afford high-quality health care. This National Hispanic Heritage Month, President Biden and Vice President Harris celebrate and honor the rich contributions of Latinos and remain committed to ensuring every family has a shot at the American Dream.

    Growing Economic Prosperity for Latino Communities

    The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda has created five million jobs for Latino workers—achieving a historically low Latino unemployment rate, reported at 5.5% through August 2024, down from 8.6% when the President and Vice President took office. The Biden-Harris Administration has delivered record economic results for Latinos, including:

    • Hispanic business ownership is up 40%–growing at the fastest rate in 30 years.
    • Doubled the number of Small Business Administration-backed loans to Latino-owned businesses in FY 2023 compared to FY 2020.
    • Cut mortgage interest premiums for Federal Housing Administration loans, saving over 185,000 Latino homeowners more than $1,000 per year.
    • Achieved the largest increase in homeownership rates for Hispanic homeowners versus the previous year and took historic action to root out home appraisal bias, which contributes to the wealth gap by unfairly undervaluing homes owned by Latinos and in majority-Latino neighborhoods
    • Awarded nearly $11 billion in Federal contracts to Latino-owned small businesses in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, an increase of nearly $1 billion since FY 2020.
    • Increased funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program—the major Federal child care grant program—by almost 50% to serve half a million more children, and issued a rule to cap out-of-pocket child care costs in that program at 7% of income, saving about 100,000 low-income families over $200 a month on average.
    • Expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC) under the American Rescue Plan, which helped cut Latino child poverty nearly in half to a record low of 8.4% in 2021—lifting 1.2 million Latino children out of poverty that year and bringing the gap between Latino and white child poverty rates to a historic low.  President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to call on Congress to restore the full expanded CTC expanded benefit so that millions of children can be lifted out of poverty. The Biden-Harris Administration also modernized SNAP benefits for the first time since 1975, lifting about 700,000 Latino families, including 360,000 Latino children, out of poverty each month.
    • Took action to establish the first-ever Federal heat safety standard in workplaces combatting extreme weather to protect 36 million farmworkers, construction workers, manufacturing workers, and others.
    • Invested more than $140 billion to drive an economic turnaround in Puerto Rico—creating more than 100,000 jobs and lowering the unemployment rate to 5.8%, near its lowest level ever. The American Rescue Plan also permanently made Puerto Rican families eligible for the same Child Tax Credit as other Americans, making nearly 90% of Puerto Rican families newly eligible for the credit.

    Ensuring Equitable Educational Opportunity for Latino Students

    President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that every student in this country deserves access to a high-quality education and a fair shot at the American Dream. This Administration has taken action to expand educational opportunities and improve college affordability for all students, including:

    • Invested a record over $15 billion in Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)— the largest investment in U.S. history.
    • Signed an Executive Order establishing a President’s Advisory Board and White House Initiative on HSIs to coordinate Federal resources and bolster collaboration between institutions.
    • Secured a $900 increase to the maximum Pell Grant award—the largest increase in the past decade, helping the over 50% of Latino college students who rely on Pell Grants.
    • Approved the cancellation of almost $170 billion in student loan debt for nearly 5 million borrowers—including for Latino borrowers, who are disproportionately burdened by student debt.
    • Proposed a rule to expand TRIO college access programs to Dreamers and others, which would allow an estimated 50,000 more students each year to access Federal college preparation services and programs, such as counseling and tutoring, and thousands more to attend college.
    • Announced nearly $15 million in new grants under the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program (Hawkins) to advance teacher diversity and prepare the next generation of educators at Minority Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges Universities—who can provide culturally and linguistically responsive teaching in our country’s underserved schools. This new round of grants—which includes awards to 15 HSIs—brings the total investment in Hawkins to $38 million under the Biden-Harris Administration, which is the first Administration to secure funding for the program.

    Improving Health Outcomes for Latino Communities

    From beating Big Pharma and lowering prescription drug costs to expanding health care coverage, President Biden and Vice President Harris have taken action to make high-quality health care more affordable.

    • Starting in 2025, all out-of-pocket drug costs will be capped at $2,000 per year and the cost of insulin is now capped at $35 for Medicare Part D enrollees, which includes five million Latinos.
    • In August 2024, the President and Vice President announced new, negotiated prices for the first ten prescription drugs selected for Medicare price negotiation—expected to save Medicare enrollees $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs in the first year of the program alone.
    • Latino enrollment in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage has doubled under the Biden-Harris Administration, which also extended ACA healthcare benefits to Dreamers starting on November 1, 2024.
    • Launched a new grant program to train doctors and physician assistants on providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care for individuals with limited English proficiency, including those who speak Spanish, to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities.
    • Added Spanish text and chat services to the National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline so that individuals can now connect directly to Spanish-speaking crisis counselors.

    Reducing Gun Violence and Saving Lives

    President Biden and Vice President Harris have taken historic action to reduce gun violence and keep our communities safe:

    • After the heroic advocacy of families from Buffalo and Uvalde and so many other communities across the country, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law—the most significant gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years.
    • Established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris, which has accelerated work to reduce gun violence and engaged with Latino communities—including survivors of mass shootings in Uvalde and El Paso and survivors of community violence disproportionately affecting Black and Latino communities.
    • Secured $400 million for the first-ever federal grant program solely dedicated to community violence interventions.

    Addressing America’s Broken Immigration System

    On Day One, President Biden introduced a comprehensive immigration reform bill and has repeatedly called on Congressional Republicans to pass the SENATE bipartisan border security bill – the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. Throughout this Administration, the President and Vice President have taken action to improve our country’s immigration system.

    • Took action to speed up work visas, to help people who graduated from U.S. colleges and universities—including Dreamers—land jobs in high-demand high-skilled professions.
    • Took action that would allow 500,000 spouses of American citizens who have been in the country for 10 years or more to apply for lawful permanent residence while staying in the United States. The Biden-Harris Administration is fighting efforts by Republican officials to block this work in court, so that families—including Latino families—can stay together.
    • Directed the Department of Homeland Security to take all appropriate actions to “preserve and fortify” Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and continue to defend the DACA rule in court.
    • Streamlined, expanded, and instituted new reunification programs so that families can stay together while they complete the immigration process.
    • Took executive action to secure the border when Congressional Republicans twice blocked the Senate bipartisan border security deal.


    Advancing an Unprecedented Whole-of-Government Equity Agenda to Expand Opportunity

    President Biden and Vice President Harris promised to leverage the power of the Federal Government to deliver for all communities and build an Administration that looks like America.

    • Assembled the most diverse administration in U.S. history, including four Latino Cabinet members—Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra, Department of Education Secretary Cardona, and U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Guzman.
    • Signed two Executive Orders directing the Federal Government to address system inequality and barriers to equal opportunity faced by underserved communities.
    • Updated Federal race and ethnicity data collection standards for the first time in almost 30 years, which is expected to improve Latino community data representation in the U.S. Census and Federal programs.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN Special Envoy for road safety visits Latin America to battle silent pandemic on the roads

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, will visit Ecuador (20-21 August), Peru (22-24) and Chile (24-28) this week. During the visit, he will meet with key government officials, representatives of the international community, private, and public sectors to promote road safety initiatives and advocate for enhanced measures. This aligns with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, aiming to halve road fatalities by 2030. This mission takes place a few weeks after the adoption of the new UN resolution for improving road safety ahead the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety to be held in Marrakech, Morocco on 18 and 19 February 2025.

    A silent pandemic…

    In the region of Latin America and the Caribbean, 110,000 people die and more than 5 million are injured annually in road crashes (IDB 2024). Road crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 5 and 14 and the second leading cause for young adults, representing a significant social and economic burden.

    … and an economic and development issue  

    These countries are losing people in their most productive years, which, In addition to the human tragedy, traps countries into a vicious circle of poverty. According to the World Bank, the cost of road crashes represents 2 to 6 % of GDP in the region.  Another reason to rethink mobility and to invest in road safety.

    An efficient and safe road system with good private and public transportation facilities also means a better access to education, health care, food in an equitable way. Such a system also connects all parts of a country and society, contributing to building economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

    Latin America is one of the most urbanized regions in the world. Road safety should be therefore at the heart of cities’ development strategies, with increased focus on bicycles and pedestrians’ lines and itineraries, particularly around schools, and access to safe and clean public transport for all.

    During his mission, the Special Envoy will also advocate for more investment for road safety, including through the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) which is running several projects in the region.

    “In Latin America, investing in road safety is key if we want to achieve our goal to halve the number of victims on the road by 2030. It will also help the region to decongestion cities with streets designed for pedestrians and bicycles and efficient public transport accessible to all” stressed the UNSG’s Special Envoy Jean Todt.

    Solutions exist

    The good news is that solutions exist. Law enforcement, urgent investment in education, better post-crash services, enhancing road infrastructure and vehicles, integrating advanced safety technologies are part of the recipe to stop the carnage on the road. Furthermore, mobilizing political leadership is essential to increase action and funding. Awareness campaigns also contributes to promote responsible behavior among all road users.

    Ecuador faces critical road safety challenges with high fatality rates

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, Ecuador has seen a concerning rise in road fatalities, with a mortality rate of 23 per 100,000 people, which is more than three times the European average (6,5 per 100,000 people).

    During his visit to the country, the Special Envoy will hold important meetings with high-ranking officials from the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Education, the Mayor of Quito, officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the United Nations Country Team. Additionally, he will participate in a dialogue with representatives from the Ecuadorian Automotive Companies Association, civil society, and other road safety partners, emphasizing the urgent need for actions on this issue, both nationally and throughout Latin America.

    24.7 million trips per year in Metropolitan Lima

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, Peru has a road traffic fatality rate of 13 per 100,000 people, which is more that the double of the European average (6,5 per 100,000 people).

    Currently, around 30% of the Peruvian population lives in Metropolitan Lima, the capital, generating 24.7 million trips per year, of which 57% are made by public transport, according to the Urban Transport Authority for Lima and Callao (ATU). The National Road Safety Observatory reports that, according to the National Police, in 2023 there were 87,083 traffic crashes, resulting in 58,000 injuries and 3,316 deaths. According to an unofficial Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) estimate, the socio-economic costs of road deaths, serious injuries, and disabilities are up to 4.6% of GDP.

    In response to these challenges, the Peruvian government is prioritizing strengthening road safety institutions.

    During his mission in Peru, the Special Envoy will meet with Peruvian authorities and representatives of the private sector and civil society working in the sector.

    Raising awareness of life-saving road safety measures in Chile

    Despite recent improvement, Chile has a road traffic mortality rate of 10 per 100,000 people (World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023). According to the most recent traffic report from the National Traffic Safety Commission of Chile (CONASET), 78,238 traffic crashes were recorded in 2023, resulting in 1,635 deaths and 45,679 injuries.

    The national authorities and civil society, with the support of the UN, increase efforts in addressing these challenges. In 2021, the United Nations Global Road Safety Week was celebrated with an intervention jointly organised by CONASET and PAHO/WHO that aimed to advocate for the establishment of 30 km/h speed limits on urban roads and to promote local support for such measures.

    Considering the exponential increase in the use of motorbikes in the country in recent years, and the proximity of the Independence Day celebrations in Chile, during his visit the Special Envoy will address the prevention of road crashes, use of helmets compliant with the UN safety regulation and promote road safety and coexistence measures.

    In this framework, he will participate in coordination meetings with government authorities, such as members of the Ministry of Transport, CONASET, Ministry of Health and the Chilean Police, as well as representatives of civil society and the private sector.

    During the visit, the Special Envoy will promote the UN-JCDecaux Global Road Safety Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of life-saving road safety measures. Launched globally in cooperation with JCDecaux Global under the motto #MakeASafetyStatement, it will run through 2025 in over 80 countries in the world, featuring safety statements from 14 global celebrities such as the F1 drivers Charles Leclerc and Mick Schumacher, singer Kylie Minogue, motorcycle race Marc Marquez, or the tennis champion Novak Djokovic. The messages the celebrities focus on mitigating risk factors on the road. Key aspects include wearing a seat belt, driving slowly, wearing a helmet, not texting and driving, not driving under the influence or while tired, and respecting pedestrians.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lujan Grisham travels to New York City

    Source: US State of New Mexico

    SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham traveled to New York City yesterday to participate in a major announcement during Climate Week 2024.

    Lujan Grisham is co-chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 24 governors representing approximately 60 percent of the U.S. economy and 55 percent of the U.S. population.

    The governor’s itinerary also includes remarks at a U.S. Climate Alliance panel on natural and working lands, a keynote address on aging at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, and a meeting with World Health Organization Secretary General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

    She is accompanied by a state delegation that includes Senior Advisor Courtney Kerster and Senior Climate Policy Advisor Travis Kellerman.

    The governor will return to New Mexico on September 24 or 25. Lt. Gov. Howie Morales will assume the role of New Mexico governor during her time in New York City.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s video message to the Leaders Meeting of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)

    Source: United Nations – English

    strong>Download the video:
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+20+Sept+24/MSG+SG+AOSIS+Leaders+Meeting.mp4

    Excellencies, friends,

    Small Island States have a big impact in our world.

    You place defining issues for humanity and the planet firmly on the global agenda.

    You show the power of multilateralism through unity, collaboration, and determination.

    And you lead internationally on many fronts — not least with your new Declaration on Sea Level Rise and Statehood.

    But global crises have an outsize impact.

    The climate crisis is pounding your communities and economies – and compounding the effects of years of global economic turmoil.

    In many of your countries, tourism – which is so central to economies and livelihoods – has not fully recovered from COVID-19.  

    The global cost-of living crisis has hit you hard.

    And a number of you are grappling with debt – forcing you to service it instead of investing in your people.

    But I see AOSIS leading the charge for change.

    The United Nations is proud to stand with you and to partner with you to deliver on the recently adopted Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS.

    Together we must keep pushing for action on climate and on finance.

    We need new national climate plans – or NDCs – from all countries that align with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

    These new climate plans should double as investment plans, boosting sustainable, resilient development, and targeting inequalities.
     
    The biggest emitters – the G20 – must lead these efforts, including a fair global phase out of fossil fuels.

    I am working with President Lula of Brazil to drive action in the G20.

    But the moral authority and dynamism of AOSIS will be critical.

    You did the least to cause this crisis. You account for just 0.2% of global emissions. But you play an outsized role in holding the biggest emitters to account.

    We must also call for significant contributions to the new Loss and Damage Fund and press developed countries to honour their promises on adaptation finance.

    And all countries must reach an ambitious agreement at COP29 – including on new and innovative finance.

    More broadly, your nations need fundamental action, to scale-up development and climate finance, scale-down the cost of such capital, and tackle the sovereign debt crisis.

    We welcome the SIDS Debt Sustainability Support Service.

    And the Summit of the Future has shown that it is possible to make the international financial system bigger, bolder and more representative of today’s world.

    We must keep pressing for change – including at the Fourth Financing for Development Conference.

    My congratulations on the General Assembly’s recent endorsement of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index. 

    We must ensure that vulnerable middle-income countries can access concessional funds. 

    Your efforts mean the eligibility and access of these countries to concessional finance can no longer be ignored.

    Let’s keep up the pressure on the Multilateral Development Banks to incorporate structural vulnerability into their lending criteria.

    The United Nations is with you – speaking in harmony, and standing in solidarity.

    Let’s keep working for the change you — and our world — need.

    Thank you.  
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s video message to the Leaders Meeting of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Download the video:
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+20+Sept+24/MSG+SG+AOSIS+Leaders+Meeting.mp4

    Excellencies, friends,

    Small Island States have a big impact in our world.

    You place defining issues for humanity and the planet firmly on the global agenda.

    You show the power of multilateralism through unity, collaboration, and determination.

    And you lead internationally on many fronts — not least with your new Declaration on Sea Level Rise and Statehood.

    But global crises have an outsize impact.

    The climate crisis is pounding your communities and economies – and compounding the effects of years of global economic turmoil.

    In many of your countries, tourism – which is so central to economies and livelihoods – has not fully recovered from COVID-19.  

    The global cost-of living crisis has hit you hard.

    And a number of you are grappling with debt – forcing you to service it instead of investing in your people.

    But I see AOSIS leading the charge for change.

    The United Nations is proud to stand with you and to partner with you to deliver on the recently adopted Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS.

    Together we must keep pushing for action on climate and on finance.

    We need new national climate plans – or NDCs – from all countries that align with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

    These new climate plans should double as investment plans, boosting sustainable, resilient development, and targeting inequalities.
     
    The biggest emitters – the G20 – must lead these efforts, including a fair global phase out of fossil fuels.

    I am working with President Lula of Brazil to drive action in the G20.

    But the moral authority and dynamism of AOSIS will be critical.

    You did the least to cause this crisis. You account for just 0.2% of global emissions. But you play an outsized role in holding the biggest emitters to account.

    We must also call for significant contributions to the new Loss and Damage Fund and press developed countries to honour their promises on adaptation finance.

    And all countries must reach an ambitious agreement at COP29 – including on new and innovative finance.

    More broadly, your nations need fundamental action, to scale-up development and climate finance, scale-down the cost of such capital, and tackle the sovereign debt crisis.

    We welcome the SIDS Debt Sustainability Support Service.

    And the Summit of the Future has shown that it is possible to make the international financial system bigger, bolder and more representative of today’s world.

    We must keep pressing for change – including at the Fourth Financing for Development Conference.

    My congratulations on the General Assembly’s recent endorsement of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index. 

    We must ensure that vulnerable middle-income countries can access concessional funds. 

    Your efforts mean the eligibility and access of these countries to concessional finance can no longer be ignored.

    Let’s keep up the pressure on the Multilateral Development Banks to incorporate structural vulnerability into their lending criteria.

    The United Nations is with you – speaking in harmony, and standing in solidarity.

    Let’s keep working for the change you — and our world — need.

    Thank you.  
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Avole Inc. Emite Aviso de Retiro del Mercado su Producto Bacalaitos Criollos Mezcla para Freír Bacalao por Falta de Declaración del Nombre Común Pescado (Pollock)

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Avole Inc., localizado en San Sebastián, Puerto Rico está retirando del mercado fundas de 7 onzas de Bacalaitos Criollos Mezcla para freír Bacalao, porque pueden contener falta de declaración del nombre común Pescado (Pollock) en la declaración de ingredientes o contenido. Las personas que tienen al

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Creating Jobs In A Clean, Equitable, Resilient Economy

    Source: US State of New York

    September 23, 2024

    Albany, NY

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York’s participation in the U.S. Climate Alliance’s Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative to grow career pathways in climate and clean energy fields, strengthen workforce diversity, and jointly train 1 million new registered apprentices across the Alliance’s states and territories by 2035. Governor Hochul made the announcement today at a Climate Week NYC event, which also featured her Alliance Co-Chair New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, founding Alliance member Washington Governor Jay Inslee, and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi.

    “In New York, we’re showing how climate action and economic growth go hand-in-hand,” Governor Hochul said. “As a co-chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance, I’m proud to be collaborating with states, industry leaders, labor unions, higher education and community organizations to create the jobs of the future required to build a clean, equitable, and resilient economy. A skilled and well-prepared workforce will drive innovation, create new businesses, and ensure a sustainable, resilient future for our country.”

    “We need a climate-ready workforce — from EV technicians and heat pump installers to solar panel manufacturers — to meet our carbon reduction goals,” New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “The Executive Order I’m issuing today in conjunction with the Alliance’s new Workforce Initiative will help ensure that workers from all backgrounds have access to the skills and training needed for high-quality, climate-ready jobs across New Mexico.”

    “We’re aligning our ambitious climate policies with workforce development to have 1 million more workers poised to take these good-paying, union jobs that serve our communities and strengthen our economies,” Washington Governor Jay Inslee said. “These are economy-wide jobs, not just in clean energy but building trades, land management, clean technology and more. Climate Alliance states have a track record of meeting our ambitious goals and that momentum continues today.”

    [embedded content]

    [embedded content]

    Through the initiative, Governor Hochul and the bipartisan coalition of 23 other governors, representing approximately 60 percent of the U.S. economy and 55 percent of the U.S. population, will partner to strengthen and expand pathways into a wide variety of climate-ready professions that are critical to building a clean, equitable, and resilient net-zero future.

    The initiative goals are to:

    • Advance strategies to ensure climate-ready employment pathways lead to good-paying, high-quality jobs.
    • Prioritize equity in climate-ready workforce policies and programs to expand opportunities for all workers, particularly those from underrepresented communities.
    • Foster meaningful and inclusive collaboration across government, tribal nations and communities, workforce systems, labor unions, industry, community-based organizations and educational institutions.
    • Support innovative and evidence-based approaches to help workers enter and advance in climate-ready careers through a range of supportive services.
    • Promote the development and use of stackable, portable, and industry-recognized credentials in climate-ready fields to build transferable skills, support reskilling and upskilling, and strengthen workers’ economic mobility.
    • Encourage climate-focused workforce planning that is rooted in evidence and aligns with states’ existing workforce development and education systems.

    The initiative’s launch comes as historic federal investments, combined with ambitious state climate action, have unleashed a significant expansion of good-paying and union jobs in clean energy and clean technology fields—such as wind, solar, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, and batteries—with millions more anticipated in the coming years under the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

    In New York, we’re showing how climate action and economic growth go hand-in-hand.”

    Governor Kathy Hochul

    Governor Hochul Announces $2.3 million to Support Job Training for Offshore Wind Projects

    Building on the workforce initiative, Governor Hochul announced a $2.3 million award to support training for careers in offshore wind through the State’s Offshore Wind Training Institute (OWTI). The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 3 has been selected to develop and deliver training for offshore wind-related skills to 100 pre-apprentices and 430 journeypersons in New York City.

    This funding award, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, will support offshore wind career awareness training as part of IBEW Local 3’s pre-apprenticeship and journeypersons training departments. Eighty of the 100 pre-apprentices will be placed in offshore wind related apprenticeship programs, and all 430 journeypersons will receive offshore wind-specific technical training, with six to be trained as instructors in offshore wind technical training.

    The training program will identify and include the knowledge and skills that are needed for electricians in all stages of offshore wind development, from preassembly through operation and maintenance.

    The funding builds on the nearly $11 million previously awarded through OWTI to other organizations supporting offshore wind related trainings. Programs supported included those at the New York City Union Iron Workers Locals 40 and 361, Capital Region BOCES, and eight different SUNY schools. The OWTI, along with NYSERDA, has built a network of academic, community, industry and labor alliances that will prepare up to 2,500 New Yorkers for careers in renewable-energy fields. OWTI is collaborating with the Renewable Energy and Sustainability Center at Farmingdale State College and the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium at Stony Brook University that is supported by NYSERDA and the U.S. Department of Energy.

    Additionally, as part of the New York Power Authority’s commitment in the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget to support the efforts of the Office of Just Energy Transition in collaboration with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) and invest annually in workforce training efforts, the Power Authority has thus far committed more than $12 million to support clean energy industry workforce development initiatives around the state.

    In July, NYPA issued a Clean Energy Workforce Training (CEWT) RFP for qualified based training providers (such as technical high schools, community colleges, universities, trade associations, manufacturers, and others) who can collaborate to develop technical training opportunities, hands-on experience, paid internships and full-time jobs for people entering the clean energy workforce. At its upcoming Oct. 8 meeting, NYPA’s Board of Trustees will vote on awarding roughly $2 million to a number of projects that would create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive pipeline of skilled talent for the clean energy labor market with a focus on pathways for employment in the clean energy field for residents of disadvantaged communities in the vicinity of NYPA’s facilities across New York State.

    Read more information on the Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative.

    White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said, “Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, we are bringing down the barriers to economic opportunity, lowering costs for American families, and catalyzing a renaissance of American-made manufacturing that is creating jobs across America. In fact, just last year, we added over 250,000 new American energy jobs — with clean energy jobs growing twice as fast as the rest of the sector. Governors across America are at the forefront of our efforts to spur growth in union jobs, expand American energy production, and invest in the economic success of our communities. Today’s announcement will help capitalize on our momentum to create a climate-ready workforce that is rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, communities, and industrial strength.”

    New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Building a clean energy economy is no small feat, and that is why this newly announced Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative is so critical. To succeed, our national and state workforces, need to be filled with expert technicians trained in the latest technologies. NYSERDA looks forward to continuing our support for workforce development and training programs through national partnerships like those being fostered by the U.S. Climate Alliance, and regional partnerships like the Offshore Wind Training Institute, as we grow New York’s industry in collaboration with other states.”

    New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “In alignment with the leadership of Governor Hochul’s and the U.S. Climate Alliance’s Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative, the New York Power Authority’s workforce development programs are connecting New Yorkers with the skills and job training needed to power the state’s, and in turn the nation’s, clean energy future. NYPA’s investments in our own workforce, public-private workforce partnerships, and partnership with the Department of Labor are part our holistic approach to support the essential clean energy workforce and engage more New Yorkers in the clean energy economy.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “New York State’s participation in the Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative will further strengthen our efforts to train New Yorkers for high-quality jobs in green energy industries. Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to addressing climate change, with support from our federal and state agency partners, will grow the economy while creating a sustainable future.”

    New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Pairing registered apprenticeship opportunities with our environmental sustainability efforts is a win-win for workers and employers. By developing registered apprenticeships in line with clean energy goals, New York State continues to strengthen local economies in the on-going transition to a low-carbon economy. I applaud Governor Hochul’s commitment to the U.S. Climate Alliance’s Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative, allowing our combined efforts to reach beyond state borders to ensure a sustainable, enduring future for our country’s workforce.”

    BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director Jason Walsh said, “We’re excited to see governors stepping up to make sure we have the workforce needed to fill the good jobs that are being created by the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and CHIPS and Science Act. There is a tremendous opportunity from those federal investments to rebuild our blue-collar middle class by creating pathways into skilled, long-term careers in sectors like construction and manufacturing. This commitment from governors across the country is good for workers, good for employers, and good for the high-road clean energy economy we’re building together.”

    National Skills Coalition Managing Director of State Strategies Melissa Johnson said, “State governments have a crucial role to play in leveraging historic federal investments to create unprecedented jobs and training opportunities for the workforce while fighting climate change. It is incredible that this coalition of governors is stepping up to prioritize the diversity and economic security of the climate workforce because our climate readiness hinges on a new generation of workers having access to the education, skills training, and economic supports they need to access good jobs and careers in this booming sector.”

    International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 3 Business Manager Christopher Erikson said, “Today’s announcement on the “Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative” is a great step forward in continuing to prepare future members of the IBEW and unionized Building Trades for the green energy jobs of today and beyond. We welcome tomorrow’s apprentices from all walks of life into our ranks with open arms, ready to deliver world-class training and to prepare them for union careers with family-supporting wages and benefits. Thank you to Governor Hochul, the Biden-Harris administration, US Climate Alliance, and NYSERDA for addressing the climate crisis head-on and supporting the unionized green workforce.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During Climate Week, Markey, Badum, Merkley, Barragán Lead Over 100 International Lawmakers in Urging Biden Administration to Reject New LNG Exports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Letter Text (PDF)

    Washington (September 23, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, today partnered with Representative Lisa Badum, group coordinator in the German Bundestag’s Climate and Energy Committee and chairwoman of the Subcommittee on International Climate and Energy Policy, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Representative Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Senate and House colleagues, and leaders from around the world in sending a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, urging the administration to reject new liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports amidst the global climate crisis.

    The United States is already the world’s largest exporter of LNG and is on track to exponentially increase export capacity – a full build-out that could yield hundreds of million metric tons of additional greenhouse gases at home and abroad. Pushing back on arguments that United States’ international allies need the country’s LNG, members of the U.S. Congress and Parliaments around the world are requesting that the administration reject these applications. 

    In their letter to the administration, the lawmakers wrote, “Far from being a clean ‘bridge’ fuel, LNG causes significant environmental harm. In addition to the greenhouse gas released when LNG is burned, the potent greenhouse gas effects of pervasive methane leaks throughout the LNG supply chain — which extends from initial exploration all the way through gas production, pipeline transportation, liquefaction, vessel transportation, regasification, distribution, and end-use consumption — likely eliminate any climate advantage of reduced greenhouse gas emissions.”

    The lawmakers continued, “In addition to the environmental and health benefits, limiting U.S. LNG exports will actually support global energy security, not jeopardize it. In both emerging and developed markets, overinvestment in LNG diverts resources away from cheaper, more stable, and less trade-dependent clean energy investments.”

    In Europe:

    “While Europe’s energy system was strained in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, it has since recovered. Europeans united to slash overall gas demand by 20 percent over the past two years. Gas prices are lower than before the start of the war, despite drastically lower supply from Russia.”

    In Asia:

    “China, the world’s largest LNG importer, has emerged as a major re-exporter within the region and globally, cashing in on lucrative price differentials that are facilitated by long-term agreements with the United States. Similarly, Japan, facing declining domestic demand and oversupply, is redirecting LNG trade volumes to emerging markets in South and Southeast Asia, bolstering profitable re-trading ventures.” Additionally, “South Korea, despite existing low terminal utilization and climate commitments, has invested significantly in expanding LNG infrastructure, highlighting a mismatch between capacity expansions and actual demand.”

    In Africa:

    “The expansion of LNG export infrastructure has sparked displacement, conflict, and environmental degradation, with many projects facing the risk of becoming stranded assets amid declining global demand. The African LNG export market parallels the United States in prioritizing foreign market interests over local needs amidst declining demand. U.S. participation in the LNG export market fuels this exploitative industry, undermining claims of leadership in a just global energy transition.”

    In the Americas:

    “Investments in new re-exporting infrastructure in Mexico will soon become stranded assets with poor financial viability, threatening the economic stability of the country for the benefit of short-term U.S. interests. Moreover, the export of U.S. LNG through Mexico also transfers environmental and climate justice burdens associated with LNG infrastructure, expanding the footprint of the industry’s harm to the country’s unique biodiversity and frontline communities in Mexico.”

    Cosigners in the U.S. include Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC). Cosigners internationally include 30 Members of the Thailand Parliament, 15 Members of the European Parliament, 10 Members of the German Parliament, 3 Members of the United Kingdom Parliament, 2 Members of the Flemish Parliament, 2 Members of the National Assembly of the Gambia, 2 Members of the South Sudan Parliament, 2 Members of the Tanzanian Parliament the Australian Senator for Victoria, Brazilian State Deputy for Para, Canadian Senator for Quebec, the Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, 1 former Member of the Sierra Leone Parliament, 1 former Member of the Catalan Parliament, 1 former Member of the Flemish Parliament, 1 Member of the Timor-Leste Parliament, Member of Parliament and Special Envoy on Climate Change and Environment from the Republic of Vanuatu, 1 Member of the Sierra Leone Parliament, 1 Member of Tasmania’s Legislative Council, 1 Member of the Australian Parliament, 1 Member of the Austrian Parliament, 1 Member of the Cambodian Parliament, 1 Member of the Cameroon National Assembly, 1 Member of the Colombian Congress, 1 Member of the Gambian Parliament, 1 Member of the Ghanaian Parliament, 1 Member of the Liberian House of Representatives, 1 Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1 Member of the Scottish Parliament, 1 Member of the Swedish Parliament, 1 Member of the Swiss Parliament (National Council), 1 Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, 1 Member of the Ugandan Parliament, 1 Member of the UK House of Lords, and 1 Member of the Victorian Parliament in Australia on behalf of the Victorian Greens Members of Parliament.

    In July 2023, Senator Markey and several New England Senators sent a letter to the Department of Energy urging it to consider the disproportionate negative impacts of LNG on New England as the department considers updates to its underlying environmental and economic analyses to improve export authorization decisions for LNG. 

    In May 2024, Senator Markey and Representative Yvette Clarke (NY-09) announced the reintroduction of the Block All New (BAN) Fossil Fuel Exports Act, legislation that would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act and ban the export of American crude oil and natural gas abroad to protect frontline communities from dangerous export infrastructure, prioritize U.S. consumers against fossil fuel profiteering, and help ensure the United States meets its climate and clean energy commitments on the world stage.

    In March 2023, Senator Markey and Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) reintroduced the Fossil Free Finance Act, legislation that would direct the Federal Reserve to require major banks and other Systemically Important Financial Institutions (SIFIs) to stop financing projects and activities linked to increased greenhouse gas emissions and submit a plan on how they would meet these requirements. In October 2022, Senator Markey reintroduced the OPEC Accountability Act, legislation to require the U.S. President to initiate consultations with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and some non-OPEC countries to reduce crude oil production.

    MIL OSI USA News –